Daniel Figueroa at home in Queenstown after the workplace incident which crushed his arm. Photo / Guy Williams, Otago Daily Times
A Queenstown company has been charged by WorkSafe New Zealand after one of its employees had his arm crushed in machinery last year.
Miller Foods Ltd, trading as Remarkables Tortillas, faces one charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of Daniel Mauricio Figueroa Varas, exposing him to risk
of death or serious injury on or about November 23 last year.
The charge, laid under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 carries a maximum penalty of a $1.5 million fine.
The particulars of the charge, dated July 24, are that it was reasonable for Miller Foods Ltd to have implemented a health and safety system which identified and controlled risks and hazards in the workplace; completed a risk assessment of its machinery; ensured the duplex tortilla press oven was adequately guarded; ensured workers were adequately trained in safe working procedures for the operation of the oven; and ensured there was an appropriate emergency response system which workers were trained in and understood.
An investigation by WorkSafe began after Figueroa, 19, tried to remove a stuck tortilla from the machine and his arm was crushed in a conveyer belt.
